New Program: Walk With Me

Walk With Me is a free outdoor-based program offering activities for women and gender diverse people who have actively worked to heal from violence or abuse experienced at any time during their life. Through shared outdoor experiences in a supportive environment, our aim is to increase quality of life through connection, compassion, resilience, and leadership.

Walk With Me programs are for women, trans and non binary folks who are in the process of healing from any type of abuse or violence. These experiences may have occurred at any stage of life. Participants are given the opportunity to explore beyond their own perceived limitations alongside other survivors, including some of the Trip Leaders. Through fully funded day trips, wilderness workshops, and overnight trips, participants are brought together to share a powerful experience surrounded by the beauty and serenity of the natural world. Intended to reinforce the process of therapy or self-healing, Walk With Me can provide a catalyst for further growth and change.

Learn more about Walk With Me here.

A message from Alexis Hekker, our Indigenous Wellness Coordinator

“I attended our local memorial last night for the 215 children found… I made a basket of tobacco ties and offered them to those attending within my role of Indigenous Wellness Coordinator. Some were taken to be offered with the elementary school students on the grounds of the residential school on the reservation this morning. I am hanging up orange ribbons today at the office as well to create discussion around this heartbreaking discovery and will be doing a tobacco offering in the garden later today. I invite [everyone] to join in on these practices should you be interested.

I want to share a petition asking the Canadian Government to search every site that once housed a residential “school”.

There are also important support numbers for people who are impacted:

IRSSS (Indian Residential School Survivors Society) Emergency Crisis Line is available 24/7 for those who may need counseling support 
1-800-721-0066

Metis 24hr crisis line (BC) 
1-833-638-4722

24hr Crisis line 
1-866-925-4419

If you are looking for a good place to donate, I highly recommend the IRSSS (Indian Residential School Survivors Society).

Marsee.

Click here to sign the petition

Click here to donate to the IRSSS

Day of Action! in Cranbrook 2021

EKNPUD in Cranbrook gathered with like-minded peers on April 14th, 2021 to protest the War on Drugs in British Columbia. The protest was intimate and impactful, with multiple media coverages throughout the week to raise awareness on the Overdose crisis.
We are currently living through multiple public health emergencies, all impacting our rural and remote communities in devastating ways. According to the BC Coroner’s report, 2020 saw 1,716 recorded fatal overdoses in British Columbia alone, with 18 of these in the East Kootenay region. It is time we #endoverdose ! To learn more about how you can help, contact ANKORS at 250-426-3383 (East Kootenay) or 250-505-5506 (West Kootenay).

Want to get involved with the East Kootenay Network of People Who Use Drugs (EKNPUD)?


Website: Home (harmreductionsaveslives.org)

Instagram: 💉HARM REDUCTION SAVES LIVES💉 (@harm.reduction.saves.lives)

Facebook: HARM Reduction SAVES LIVES | Facebook


Photography by: Cole Green Photography Cole Green Photography

2018 AIDS Walk Fundraiser BBQ this Saturday!

Join ANKORS at the 2018 AIDS Walk Barbecue on September 15, 10am – 1pm at Lakeside Park!

The AIDS Walk for Life is ANKORS’ annual fundraiser for our Foundation Fund: money that directly supports people with HIV and Hepatitis C in the Kootenays with life and health expenses. This fund is very important to the communities ANKORS serves, show up and support us!

There are two ways you can contribute: showing up to our barbecue on Saturday, or participating in our online silent auction.

At the barbecue, there will be complimentary food and drinks, Zumba classes, face painting and games for families and children, speeches from esteemed community members, and an opportunity for a contemplative walk around the labyrinth. Everything is by donation!

See the facebook event for our barbecue here: 2018 West Kootenay AIDS Walk

Our online auction includes amazing items: gift certificates to local restaurants (like Pitchfork, La Bomba Dell’Amore, The Hume, Cantina Del Centro and Main Street Diner), accommodations at local spots (like Prestige Lakeside Resort, the Dancing Bear Inn, and Best Western), wellness packages (from SkinBliss MediSpa, Oranj Fitness, A Touch of Bliss Massage, Bambu Hot Yoga, Nelson Boxing & Athletics Club, and Mountain Waters Spa), a pass for the Kokanee Mountain Zipline, a brewery tour and beer tasting for 4 at the Torchlight Brewing Company, golf passes to Castlegar Golf Club & RV Park, and tons of gift bundles (from Mountain Baby, John Ward Coffee, Kootenay Co-op, Otter Books, and Oso Negro)!!!!

All money from the auction supports the Foundation Fund, make sure to participate: 2018 ANKORS AIDS Walk Fundraiser

Read this year’s article in the Nelson Star here: AIDS Walk features online silent auction